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Surprisingly, the Phoenix “Wiley” Coyotes are off to a good start this season with an 11-4-2 record. The Caps, on the other hand, started off a bit rusty and are 9-7. Nonetheless, the Caps have been on a four game win streak and it seems like nothing can stop them. If we’re talking power play, the Caps have the highest number of power play goals as well as the NHL high of 28.5% of goals scored on the power play. The key to winning for this group of guys is to draw penalties and do what they do best, apparently, which is to score.

The one thing that could stand in their way? Mike Smith, who I mentioned in my looking ahead post, could put up a brick wall to the Caps road to victory. He’s 21st in save percentage, but he’s first in games played in the NHL. So combine the two and you can see the skewing of the stats. Especially behind a defense like his, you can see why he has a .915 sv%. Even though, he’s not someone to take lightly. Remember the 2010 Playoffs? Yeah.

In good news, the Caps get to see their former player and captain Jeff Halpern (or Halpy, as I call him) as well as Mike “gangsta” Riberio. Both are having good seasons with Ribz scoring 5 goals and Halpy 1, respectively. Not anyone to look for too closely on the ice, but you never know!

The players you do have to look out for are guys like Keith Yandle and Shane Doane, who basically carry this team on their back. If anyone’s in a fighting mood, look no further than resident tough guy Biznasty. Wouldn’t want to run into that guy in a dark alley. Yikes.

It’ll be a good game for the Caps if they keep their nose clean and keep the game fast paced. If they deviate and try some cutesy shit, they could get into some trouble.

Like this:

After the Caps embarrassing game against the Leafs ,you can’t slice or dice that game any other way. Boudreau has decided something needs to change (I’m glad someone’s listening to me!)and his idea of change is to bench Semin. And by bench I mean make sit in the press box and eat nachos.

I don't think he likes nachos...

Was this a good decision by Boudreau? I like to think so, Boudreau’s message clearly wasn’t getting across before, so if making him eat nachos for one night works, and he plays up to the caliber of talent he has, it was totally worth it. You can’t disagree with me, Sasha fans.

My two cents?

Semin is a really, really talented player and I truly respect him for that. But his (sometimes) seeming lack of effort is very frustrating to watch. Especially when it looks like everyone else is playing hard.

Another important note I’d like to point out, Semin did score a goal in our game against Winnipeg. That was great, but if you look at his play outside of that game, you’ll realize something has to change.

Whether he gets a wake up call or it’s the rest of the team. Anyway you slice or dice it, somebody or something has to get the Caps refocused, energized, and ready to compete at their highest caliber.